How to Dress More Feminine Without Wearing a Dress

Add feminine accessories to a well-tailored suit.

Several decades ago, designers and fashion editors considered it unfeminine for women to wear anything besides a skirt or dress. Thankfully, those days are over. Modern fashion icons like Donatella Versace and Donna Karen design clothing that accentuates real women and their femininity without preventing them from bending over in public. Dressing more feminine means paying attention to small details and wearing flattering clothing whether you're dropping your kids off at soccer or attending a power board meeting.

Things You'll Need

• Silk scarf
• Pearl earrings and necklace
• Tailored blouse with darts
• Fitted, curved blazer

Instructions

1. Integrate bright, feminine colors in your outfit. You don't have to sport a hot-pink halter under your power suit, but layering a soft aqua or deep fuchsia knit top under a pin-striped blazer gives your outfit a feminine touch.

2. Wear fitted outfits that accentuate your curves instead of hiding them. Choose darted blouses and fitted bottoms for the office. For casual or exercise clothing, wear shirt containing at least 10 to 15 percent spandex. The stretch of the material contours your upper body, giving you more shape than wearing a shapeless 100 percent cotton sack.

3. Wear delicate jewelry that emphasizes your femininity. A pair of dangling earrings or string of peals softens even the least feminine of outfits. Limit your jewelry to three or fewer items so you don't look someone who just robbed a pawnshop.

4. Wear clothing made from soft, flexible materials such as soft cotton knits, silk, refined cotton, or angora and cashmere, if your price range is flexible. These delicate, materials feel soft and emphasize your female sense of style.

Tips & Warnings

• Wearing feminine pieces of clothing requires a balancing your genuine style. Integrate different items or colors into your wardrobe naturally instead of forcing a change all at once.

References

• Marie Claire: Feminine Office Outfits
• "Behind the Seams: The New Femininity," by Ruth Basloe. Cosmopolitan Magazine
• "Donatella Versace: The Design Diva," by Alexandra Marshall. Glamour Magazine: November 2010.